Bloomberg: US fears being ‘cornered’ by China’s peace plan for Ukraine

Washington is afraid of being “driven into a corner” because of the plan proposed in February by the Chinese Foreign Ministry for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, writes Bloomberg, citing one of the White House officials.

The U.S., which has been publicly skeptical of China’s initiative, cannot “ignore” the plan, the agency’s source said on condition of anonymity. Washington’s rejection of it will allow Beijing to convince other countries, tired of the consequences of armed conflict, that the United States does not want peace, he explained.

Bonnie Lin, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and Strategic Studies, agreed with him. “If the US rejects the agreement, China is likely to amplify reports that the US opposes the ceasefire,” she said. China in this case will be able to use many tools to present the United States in a negative light, she added.

The fact that the Chinese plan for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine has been carefully studied by Russia and can be taken as a basis was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin after the March 21 talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “But we do not see readiness” for a peaceful settlement in the West and the Kyiv side, the Russian president stated.

The Chinese chairman, in turn, said that his country adheres to the settlement of the conflict on the basis of the UN Charter, promotes reconciliation of the parties and the resumption of negotiations, and always stands for peace and dialogue. In this, China is on the “right side of history,” Xi said.

12-Point Plan for Settling the Situation in Ukraine was published Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China February 24. Beijing’s main theses: respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and the norms of international law; abandoning the “Cold War mentality”; ceasefire and hostilities, as “there are no winners in wars”; launching peace talks; settlement of the humanitarian crisis; protection of civilians and prisoners of war; NPP safety support; reducing strategic risks and preventing the use of nuclear weapons.

On March 20, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the UN Security Council should not “be misled” by calls for a temporary ceasefire or a ceasefire “without preconditions.” John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the US National Security Council, said that the US was “very, very closely” watching Xi’s meeting with Putin, as US top officials were “concerned” about any possible calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine.